“Tanya Bailey and the Cheesy Fromage embodies the spirit of rural Ontario,” said Hon. Lisa Thompson. “Rural small businesses like Cheesy Fromage are what keeps rural Ontario moving. It is rural small businesses in our rural communities that make Ontario the economic engine of Canada. That is why it is so important to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit that is found each and every day in rural Ontario.”
The Rural Entrepreneur 2026 goes to a business that has displayed great efforts in delivering sustainable, local and healthy homemade meal options to assist residents with meal planning and nutrition.
“Tanya’s leadership was instrumental in revitalizing the Peterborough Agricultural Society, steering the 180-year-old organization back from the brink of permanent closure in early 2025, to being a strong voice in the local recovery efforts after the October 2025 fire in downtown Lakefield,” said Greg Bartlett, Vice Chair of the Peterborough Agricultural Society. “Tanya has proven that her dedication to the county’s agricultural community extends far beyond the walls of her Queen Street business.”
The Cheesy Fromage is Lakefield’s Original General Store. They promote local, sustainable, healthy meal options that support Lakefield and the surrounding rural communities.
“The success of our rural economy depends on local leaders like Tanya who bridge the gap between our farmers and our dinner tables,” said Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha Dave Smith. “By revitalizing the Peterborough Agricultural Society and championing sustainable food through The Cheesy Fromage, Tanya has created a blueprint for rural innovation.”
“I am very blessed to have a small business in a rural community which allows me to connect farming, and the production of Ontario cheeses with an amazing community like Lakefield in the heart of the Kawarthas,” said Bailey. “I hope that in some small way I can continue to raise awareness of the hard work of Ontario cheese makers and how they stand shoulder to shoulder with the best cheese producers in the world.”
